Mississippi River Trail: Bringing Bicyclists Together

The Mississippi
River Trail:
Bringing bicyclists to
America’s river one
partnership at a time

2012 Pro Walk Pro Bike Conference
Liz Walton , Dorian Grilley, and Susan Overson

Agenda:
• Minnesota Department of Transportation: MRT planning
Liz Walton

• Bicycle Alliance of MN: bicycle-friendly communities
Dorian Grilley

• National Park Service: Alternative Transportation Plan
Susan Overson

Challenge
• Attract new visitors to Minnesota, MRT communities, and
the MNRRA (Mississippi National River and Recreation Area)
• Create a bikeway by “rebranding” existing roads/trails
• Acquire no additional land/no expensive development
• Do so in collaborative and efficient manner

Attract visitors to MN & MNRRA
Simultaneously improve/provide:
• Local recreation and transportation opportunities
• Access to river and its natural/cultural resources
• Economic benefit for host communities
• Public health

The Basics: Minnesota’s MRT
• Borrows routing from Great River Road
• Safest route with highest quality river experience
• 10 states; over 800 miles in MN
• Called “trail” – but really a bikeway
• Largely on roads outside of Twin Cities

Bikeway

Mn Statute 169.011 – DEFINITIONS

Subd. 9.Bikeway.
"Bikeway" means a bicycle lane, bicycle path, or
bicycle route, regardless of whether it is designed
for the exclusive use of bicycles or is to be
shared with other transportation modes

2012 Conference Theme: Placemaking
• Connect people to great destinations and places
• Mississippi River - world icon
• National parks - U.S. treasures

• Public is welcomed and engaged to walk, bike,
mingle, dance, dine, shop, and play
• MRT connects 800+ miles of MN river communities
• MRT communities becoming more bike-friendly

• Uses Great River Road’s
“Destination Areas”
• Adds 1 area

Begins at Itasca State Park

Photo credit to Scott Schroeder

Mississippi Headwaters - Itasca State Park to Bemidji

Mississippi Northwoods - Bemidji to Grand Rapids

Forest History Center
Photo credit to Mn Historical Society

Paul Bunyan/Heartland State Trails
Bemidji to Brainerd/Cass Lake to Walker

Photo credit to Explore Minnesota Tourism

Mississippi Crossings - Grand Rapids to Little Falls

Scenic Mississippi - Little Falls to Elk River

St. Cloud: Musinger Gardens

Metro Mississippi - Elk River to Hastings
Includes MNRRA (Miss. National River Recreation Area)

St. Paul

Minneapolis; Stone Arch Bridge

Elk River: Rivers Edge Commons

Mississippi Bluffs - Hastings to Iowa Border

Reads Landing

Ends at Gulf of Mexico

Photo credit to Bob Robinson

Route Composition
Route is:
• 25% state and U.S. highways (MnDOT)
• 60% county, local, and township roads
• 15% state, regional, and local paths/trails
Facilities managed by:
• 67 cities
• 21 counties
• 88 townships
• 1 state park

MRT Connections
Connects communities, plus: Itasca State Park: photo credit to Mn DNR

• 8 state parks
• 1 state recreation area
• 1 national park Frontenac State Park

• 2 reservations/tribal areas

John Latsch State Park

MRT Connections
Connects:
• 3 state trails
• 10 regional trails

MRT is for all ages and abilities
• Specific segments = all (beginner-expert)
• Overall route = comfortable sharing roads

Photo credit to Major Taylor
Bicycling Club of MN

Photo credit to Paul Smith-CTC

Minnesota’s 2-Year Planning Effort (2010-12)
• Revisit existing route
• Maps
• Bicycle-friendly communities
• Marketing and outreach
• Promote and celebrate
• Designations (Mn Legislature + U.S. Bicycle Route)
• Signs
• Collaborative management

Revisit route
Based on GRR Destination Areas
• Series of regional meetings
• Previous route developed in 2002
• 2010 involved diverse participation
• Identified goals/principles
• Bicyclist (safe, intuitive…)
• Community (“tour bus”)

Evaluation Rides
Unresolved segments

MRT Maps
• Printable maps
• GIS-interactive maps
• GPS download
• Now - turn-by-turn on map

Marketing and Outreach
Early-adopters receive expert help:
• Selected regional “Host” cities
• Distributed marketing strategy
• Former Tourism Director
• SWOT analysis
• Develop marketing action plans
• Combined bicycle-friendly work

Marketing Toolbox
Help communities market their MRT segments
• Enhance existing efforts
• Promote consistently
• MRT goals/“brand”
• Products and service
• Bicyclist types
• Key messages
• Supporting tactics
• Downloadable

Additional marketing
Tourism office + partners

• Greater interest in biking
• Bike tourism “summits”
• Enhance existing efforts
• New Pedal Mn campaign
• Free: print, TV, social media

Designations
• MN: 1st state bikeway
• U.S. Bicycle Route System (3-stages)
• Requires political support (resolutions)

2 3

1

Signs
• 2009 – partially signed in MNRRA
• Completing statewide sign plan
• Periodic U.S. Bicycle Route signs

Collaborative Management

• MnDOT doesn’t own the MRT
• MnDOT’s role has been convener/partner
• Develop and implement management model
• Partners want regional representation and decisions
• Success depends on local enthusiasm and support

Route partnerships
Adding value to infrastructure/maximize investment
• 1,000s of road miles desirable for bicycling = “ride ready”
bikeways
• Take full advantage of roads…multi-modal
• Connect trails today vs. non-linked “pieces”
• Integrate bikeway with roadway improvements and
increase safety/access

Community Partnerships
• Regions are “smaller” on a bike. MRT can:
• Bring communities together
• Promote an understanding of local and regional issues
• Cooperative solutions/and broader outlook

• New partnerships:
• Urban meets rural
• From engineers to parks and rec./trail staff
• Bicyclists…+ bus, train, canoe, and other modes

New agency partnerships
DNR:
• Joint planning - future bikeways
• Develop interim trail connections
Health:
• Bikeable Communities Workshop
NPS:
• Joint park/transportation planning
• Matching funds

Lessons learned
• Create compelling alignment
• Create ideal route; review how many jurisdictions
• Sell the multiple benefits
• Don’t oversell benefits
• Don’t undersell obligations
• Determine if /when need resolutions

Being Bicycle Friendly
Minnesota Segment
Mississippi River Trail

Dorian Grilley, Executive Director
Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota
2009 to Present

Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota - bikemn.org

BikeMN Mission & Vision:

• To provide leadership and a unified
voice for bicycle education, advocacy
and efforts to make Minnesota more
bicycle friendly so that more people will
ride bicycles more often.
• Minnesota is a state where bicycling is a
safe, easy, fun and cool choice for
everyone.


How BikeMN Helps
(from recently updated Strategic Plan)

• Advocacy
• Education
• Promotions & Events
• Technical Assistance BFC & BFB


Education Program
• Smart Cycling Curricula
• Share the Road/Drive Your Bike
• Safe Routes to School Bike Education
including curriculum development
assemblies, rodeos, train the trainer
• Bikeable Communities Workshop


Advocacy
Statewide Issues for BikeMN
- Statewide Complete Streets Policy (2010)
- Unchanging Red Light Law (2010)
- State shutdown/impasse (2011)
- State Safe Routes to School Program (2012)
- Mississippi River Trail State Bikeway (2012)
- Blinking Headlights and Studded Tires (2012)
- Electric-Assisted Bicycles (2012)
MN Bike Summit at the State Capital: Annually in March

2013 issues:
- Implementation of MAP-21
- Funding for State Safe Routes to School
- Vulnerable User
- More updates to Operation of a Bicycle laws
- Share the Road License Plates
- Old Cedar Avenue Bridge
-Lots more State/Regional/Local Issues


Promotions & Events
Getting more people on bikes:
 Two events on the MRT this year and promoted
another. Itasca to Iowa
 Host the Saint Paul Classic some on the MRT
 Support community events like Open Streets,
Mayor’s rides, etc.
 Pedal MN campaign
 Other events and promotions


Technical Assistance:
Building a Bike-Friendly MN

Assistance to Bicycle Friendly Businesses &
Communities based upon LAB’s five E’s:
How Does Our State
Rank in Bicycle
• Education of bicyclists & motorists
Friendliness? • Enforcement of laws for all road users
1. Washington • Engineering – good bicycle facilities
2. Minnesota • Encouragement and promotion
3. Massachusetts
4. Colorado • Evaluation & planning of and for bicycling
5. Oregon
6. Wisconsin


How Does Minnesota Rank in
LAB Bicycle Friendliness?

1. Washington
2. Minnesota
(Up from 4 in 2011)

3. Massachusetts
4. Colorado
5. Oregon
Minneapolis (Gold), Rochester, St. Paul & Mankato (Bronze), Winona & Edina (HM)


Bicycle Friendly Communities

Health
Quality of Life
Environment
Economics
(Remember this when we
talk about MnDOT’s
vision and planning)


Reasons to Be a BFC:
Economic Development in MN

Road & Mtn Biking:
$1 Billion /yr

Industry alone:
$315 million /yr

*Sources: U of MN, tourism; Minnesota Business

Quality of Life – Healthy Communities

• BFCs always on short lists
of best places to live. (6 in
US News’ latest Top 10)
• 2009 International Ranking
of Cities with highest QOL
contains 8 U.S. cities:
– 6 are BFCs
– 1 Honorable Mention
– 1 working on designation

• Home buyers want to live
and businesses want to
locate in bicycling and
walking friendly
communities.

Healthy Individuals

• Obesity epidemic

• Other disease related to
physical inactivity

• Health Care Costs

• Productivity


What Do BFC’s Have?

• Commitment to action
– Action Plan
• Targets, measures
• Network of facilities
– Complete Streets policy
• Breadth of programs –
The Five E’s
• Education/Encouragement
• Engaged Police
• People riding bikes!


Make it Easy to be a BFC
Don’t Reinvent the Wheel!
Learn and Borrow from Others.
Believe in the 5 “E’s.


Partner, Partner, Partner
All these have a stake in your success
Empower local advocates and they will empower you.
• MN Complete Streets Coalition
• MN Safe Routes Network (BCBS)
• State Agencies (MnDOT, DNR, MDH, Tourism,
Safety)
• National Park Service & other federal agencies
• U.S. Bike Route System/Adventure Cycling
• Other Nonprofits (MRT, Inc. AHA, ACS, other health)
• Local Public Health (big allies!)
• Local Advocates and Clubs (synergy, not competition)
• The Bicycle Industry & other business
• Community Organizations (chambers, Rotary, etc.)
• State and local publicofofficials bikemn.org
Bicycle Alliance Minnesota -

Mississippi River Trail
Minnesota’s first State Bikeway & USBRS


What is a Bikeway?*
you all know what a trail is…

M.S. 169.011 Definitions - Subd. 9.
Bikeway. "Bikeway" means a bicycle
lane, bicycle path, or bicycle route,
regardless of whether it is designed
for the exclusive use of bicycles or is
to be shared with other transportation
modes.
* the Mississippi River Trail is the only legislatively designated
bikeway in Minnesota!


Why BFC the MRT?
(Communities get this in seconds!)

- Synergy
- Healthy Communities
- International Recognition
- Visitor Experience
- Locals Riding
- Economic Development
- Quality of Life

MnDOT’s Vision
- Quality of Life, Environment
& Economic Focus Traffic Free Cycling
- Minnesota GO
- Bicycle Planning Study
- Ensure Multi-Modal
- Innovative & Creative


MRT in Minnesota
60% county, township & local roads
25% state & U.S. highways
15% state, regional & local trails
Some Examples:


Case Study
BEMIDJI AREA
Applied to be a BFC August 2012


BikeMN BFC Reports
• Community meetings
with advocates,
community leaders,
schools, business and
city staff
• On bike assessment
• Guiding
recommendations and
observations
• Action Steps based on
“5 – E’s”
• Community resources


Major Strengths - Bemidji
• Formal & Effective
Collaboration
• Bike Culture!
• Political & staff leadership
• Breadth of E’s
Bemidji is one of the coldest places in
• Best Practice: On-street
the lower 48 states!
Bike parking
• Tourism support
• Innovative Leadership from
Higher Ed
• Mode share is high
• Momentum

Outcomes –
Parking Downtown Bemidji


Outcomes -
Bemidji Bicycle
Map


Rural and Small Community
(Kids can still bike to school in Bemidji)


Aitkin
• Rural – Pop. 2,100
• SRTS plan Hospital and
promotional
• Active Living Plan photo for
Family
• Police teach bike Practice
safety
• Every school kids gets
a free helmet
• The major employer is
healthcare
• Tourism is important
• Quality of Life an issue
• They get Bike Friendly

Little Falls, MN
• Bike lanes on main
streets
• Strong advocates
• Positive
momentum
• Tourism Support
• Charles Lindbergh
childhood home


Minneapolis
• More than bicycle mode-
share since 2000
– Journey to work by bike –
1.89% (2000)
– 3.9% (2010)
• Started state & local
advocacy groups
• Bicycling ambassadors
• Mayor Rybak’s support
• Over 200 miles of bikeways
• Midtown Bike Center on
greenway
• Paths plowed first
• Midtown Greenway – 3,500
users/day 365 average!
• Lots of BFB’s


Saint Paul
• Bicycle Master Plan
• Sustainable Trans. Planner
• Bike parking ordinance
• Helped start state & local
advocacy groups
• MN’s largest bike event
• National bike Month
• Lots of LCI’s and classes
• Police have been trained
• Bus drivers trained in bike
safety (all over Metro)
• Share the Road campaign &
signs city wide
• Lots of BFB’s too


Bicycle Friendly Winona

• Already an Honorable Mention
• Political & staff leadership
• Demonstrated innovation
• Best Practice: Mapping
• Tourism support
• General support from Higher Ed
• Mode share increasing
• Momentum
• Bike Boulevard and on road lanes

Bikeable Community Workshop

• All MNRRA
Communities invited
• Focus on professional
staff & elected
• Classroom and on
bike
• Reasons to be a BFC
• Partner with MnDOT
and MDH & NPS


Others are Interested
BikeMN has presented or
talked to:
• Grand Rapids
• Crosby
• Brainerd
• Baxter
• St. Cloud
• Hastings
• Red Wing
• La Crescent
It is an easy sell!


Moving Forward

For more info:
Dorian Grilley
Executive Director
651-387-2445
dorian@bikemn.org

Find us on the web: bikemn.org
Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BikeMN
Follow us On Twitter: @BikeMN


NPS and the Mississippi River Trail
Mississippi Nat’l River and Recreation Area

The Mississippi National River and
Recreation Area (MNRRA)
 72-mile linear park
established by Congress
in 1988 to preserve,
protect and enhance . . .
 No land management
authority
 Multi-jurisdictional
 Accomplish everything in
partnership with state
and local entities

Urban National Park

 Large urban population
and infrastructure
 Multi-modal system in
place (bike, ped, transit,
water access)
 Bicycle Friendly Park
 Already provides visitors
with multi-modal
options throughout an
established regional park
system

Surrounded on both sides of the river by
protected green space in the heart of city

72-miles of the 10-state, 3,000-mile MRT
3,000-mile/10-state MRT includes
Headwaters to Iowa Border
14 National Parks and Wildlife Refuges

Joint NPS/MnDOT Goal
Visitors can experience the MRT and their
National Park both on and off road.

The MRT is the primary bike and alternative
transportation route along the river

As an MRT partner NPS provides
resources and technical assistance
 $15,000 MRT signage
 $1.4 million through Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks
Program – FHWA funding for alternative transportation
projects in national parks and other federal land
management areas (USFWS, USFS, BLM)
 $140,000 Match to MnDOT Scenic Byway funds
 $100,000 for trail construction in Saint Paul
 $80,000 MRT trailhead in Inver Grove Heights
 Staff assistance with marketing, ground-truthing, route
alignment, user guides, letters of support
 FHWA funds no longer exist after 2012 – next few years
may be challenging

“Partnerships R Us”
 Trails and Open Space Partnership
 Alternative Transportation Plan
 MRT Host Community

Trails and Open Space Partnership
 Since 1996, collaborative of over 50 agencies and
organizations focused on completing the metro
Mississippi MRT segment by 2016, the NPS Centennial
 Identified MRT as primary transportation facility in
MNRRA
 Prioritization criteria for funding includes completing
or connecting a section of the MRT in MNRRA
 TOSP encourages implementing agencies to use TOSP
priorities for planning and implementation and has
helped them secure over $100 million in public and
private funds

NPS/MRT Host Community
 Promote the MRT “Brand” in all 25 communities in MNRRA
 Assist communities with marketing efforts and getting people to
the MRT
 Help communities achieve bicycle friendly status
 Create awareness for the entire MRT and it’s destinations
 One of six geographic destinations – the “Metro Mississippi”
 Develop new partnerships and collaborate with existing
 Link the National Park visitor with MRT resources through our
website, publication, events.
 Collaborate on events

MRT Ground Truthing (2002 and 2010)

First National Park to Establish a Bike
Sharing System with Nice Ride MN

Interpretive Opportunities
 Ranger on Call Program
 Bike with a Ranger
 Take me to the River

 Print and online guide to
recreation in the MNRRA
 Highlights bike and water
trails, including the MRT
 Updating to include
transit info
 http://www.nps.gov/
MNRRA/planyourvisit/MN
RRArivercomp.htm
 Marketing tool for MRT

Alternative Transportation Plan
NPS Transportation Funds
Transportation Scholar
Work with Multiple Partners
 MnDOT
 Trails and Open Space
Partnership (TOSP)
 25 Local Jurisdictions
 Metropolitan Council
 Metro Transit
 Bike Walk Twin Cities
 UM Center for Trans. Studies

Alternative Transportation Plan
 MRT primary transit facility
 Reduce congestion
 Increase tourism
 Interpretive programs
 Increase non-motorized
river access
 Create a seamless multi-modal system
 Minimize impacts to park resources
 Identified over 300 existing and proposed connections
to the MRT

ATP GOAL
A seamless and recognizable alternative transportation system that
builds on the MRT and existing metro transit system while serving
park visitors, commuters, and residents of the metro area.

MNRRA Multi-Modal System Metro Transit System

Connections to Area Transit
Mississippi River Trail Bus Routes and Stations
Connections

Connections to Area Transit
Northstar Rail Corridor Bus Routes w/ Access to MRT

$1.4 M from FHWA to install 32 bike share stations, associated
transit improvements and signage along the MRT

Provide access to the river and its
natural and cultural resources
• Water Access
• MNRRA
Destinations

NPS Recreation Programs
Bike With a Ranger
Urban Wilderness Canoe
Adventure Program

Protect air andWater and Airquality
Improvements to
water Quality

Five Year Plan to connect Mississippi River Trail
with area transit and river
Union Depot Transit Mississippi River Challenge
Station

Benefits to MRT and MNRRA
 Achieves NPS and MRT
goals
 Maximizes NPS funds
 New programs like “Take
Me to the River” and
“Ranger on Call”
 Protects park resources
 Reduces congestion
 Creates awareness of
MNRRA, MRT, and NPS
 Creates new partnerships MNRRA ATP Planning Team

 Bike Loan Program

Challenges
 NPS does not own or
manage land
 Will take time to build out
72-mile “off-road”
segments (on road exists)
 Multiple partners, funding
cycles, jurisdictions
 Funding uncertain
 Need boat storage and
shuttles for multi-modal
recreation (We’re working
on that )

June 4, 2012 – bike share program launched along the
MRT in Saint Paul – a first within a national park!

Bikeways can provide:
• Cost-effective bike routes
• Links to where people want to go
• Enhanced recreation
• Active transportation
• Transportation alternatives to river/public lands
• New local economic activity
• Better return on investments
• Enrichment and social cohesiveness

And partnerships that bring adventure…

…and complement great placemaking

Photo credit to Mpls. Star Tribune

For more info:
Liz Walton, Landscape Architect
MnDOT – Bicycle and Pedestrian Section
liz.walton@state.mn.us 651-366-4186
Web: www.dot.state.mn.us/bike/mrt
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MRTMinnesota

Dorian Grilley, Executive Director
Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota
dorian@bikemn.org 651-387-2445
Web: www.bikemn.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/BikeMN

Susan Overson, Landscape Architect
National Park Service - Mississippi National River & Recreation Area
susan_overson@nps.gov 651-293-8436
Web: http://www.nps.gov/miss/index.htm
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mnrra

Mississippi River Trail: Bringing Bicyclists Together

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